Anesthesia and sleep apnea

If this is off topic, please forgive me and maybe someone can direct me as to where I can ask.

I have been using a BiPAP for going on six years now, use it every night (can't sleep without it if power is out) and according to the sleep clinic, it's working. I am faced with the situation of possibly needing surgery in the next few months. I have to have a minor procedure under anesthesia/sedation and if the biopsy is positive, will need major surgery (hysterectomy).

I have heard, and my gyn confirmed it, that sleep apnea patients are at higher risk with anesthesia. He said if I have to have the surgery, it will be a difficult one and that the risk is considerably higher with sleep apnea. This has me scared out of my wits, to the point of not even wanting to do the biopsy. (I am also diabetic, adding more risk) Is there anyone here who has had surgery and how did it go?

Margaret

Margaretm wrote:If this is off topic, please forgive me and maybe someone can direct me as to where I can ask.

I have been using a BiPAP for going on six years now, use it every night (can't sleep without it if power is out) and according to the sleep clinic, it's working. I am faced with the situation of possibly needing surgery in the next few months. I have to have a minor procedure under anesthesia/sedation and if the biopsy is positive, will need major surgery (hysterectomy).

I have heard, and my gyn confirmed it, that sleep apnea patients are at higher risk with anesthesia. He said if I have to have the surgery, it will be a difficult one and that the risk is considerably higher with sleep apnea. This has me scared out of my wits, to the point of not even wanting to do the biopsy. (I am also diabetic, adding more risk) Is there anyone here who has had surgery and how did it go?

Margaret

Margaret, as a man, I have to admit that I have not had that problem. I have had surgery though, and during surgery you will be attended by an anesthesiologist. He will ensure that you breathe just fine. If needed they can intubate you which would stop apneas in their tracks. Take your Bi-PAP with you for the recovery and let them the doctors know of your condition a couple of days before. They may want to chat with you about it.

Good luck, and cross that particular worry off the list.

-Bill

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

I have been put out using Propofal...piece of cake.
I know of others here who have had major surgeries with no problem. If you think about it... you will be extremely well monitored by machines and medical pros. Probobly safer there from an apnea stand point then your own bed.
Best of luck to ya.
Dave

I have also had surgery after I started using my bipap machine. My surgery lasted over three hours, and I did just fine. They set up my machine when I got to my room, and I used it while I was in the hospital. They even furnished distilled water for me to use in the machine.

I had two surgeries about a year before I was finally diagnosed with apnea. I was fine. You have the advantage of knowing you have this diagnosis and so your OR team will also know. I think your gyn needs a kick in the butt. He has no business terrorizing you regarding a biopsy you have to have. I too have had experience with someone like that speaking out of place and terrorizing me. When I had a biopsy that was positive, a nurse practitioner assured me that she was certain I would have positive lymph nodes. So I went into the big surgery convinced that my diagnosis was terminal. I did not have positive lymph nodes. I would still like to hunt her down. So I see your gyn doing the same thing to you and it really ticks me off.

Given the serious medical condition of those who are undergoing surgery, 1/5000 (0.02%) is not really that bad. xxyzx appears to be afraid of his own shadow.

Just got a De-Fib replaced after 11 years, (die Hard died) 10-09-17, they also added new wires in two heart chambers. This time they put me out, used my CPAP both times. (same CPAP 12 years old) Got out 10-10-17, the nite of the ninth was bad 3 hours sleep, the tenth another 3 hours, when I got home slept 12 hours. Never missed a breath. Jim

They used glue to hold the wound closed, probably won't be wearing a two piece to the beach. Left quite a bump.

xxxxzx, what good will meeting the anesthesist do. You aren't going to jump off the slab and beat him up. At least this one was awake in school, the last one used novicane, incorrectly. Finally I passed out as they were burn sealing the bleeders, I took the cutting and carving the pocket to put it in, but the soldering gun to close the bleeders, exceeded my pain limits, I finally passed out. When I was in recovery, one of my nurses said: She had never seen anything like that.

Oh for god's sake - PLEASE ignore xxxyz as he's cracked as they come!

Don't worry about a thing. If you were having major surg. we'd tell you to talk to the anesthetist ahead of time and/or the recovery room nurse because each hosp. has diff. regs about how to handle things (bring your machine, don't bring it we'll have one, etc), but in any case during surg. you'll be under 02 so it won't be a factor and in your case, day surg will be short and sweet. Yes, if you'll be out for a while afterward do say you'll want to be on a machine then, but otherwise you'll be fine.

Think about all the apneics who are not diagnosed and go through surg. every day out there (I was one) and survive.

I had a hysterectomy 7-8 years ago. Everyone involved was aware of my sleep issues, and there were no problems. The hospital insisted on providing the cpap machine for the overnight stay. I just took my mask and hose.

How do you brick sheets? Can't you even try to proof your illegible posts? BTW, I was anesthetized less than 1 year ago and I came out fine.

Well...since we are talking odds... the chance of getting killed by accident in the USA are 1 in 20.
So I guess its best we all spend our lives in a hospital...anesthetized.
Just Sayin

I am careful but not paranoid. If I shared your distrust of the entire medical, insurance, DME and other health professions I would never let any of them get near me. But I don't and by seeking appropriate treatment I am very healthy. I cannot fathom why you so frequently suggest people go to a variety of doctors and get all the tests available ( which overtesting is a major cause of high medical costs BTW) when you have such disdain for what you have self-described as your own world-class physicians.

This is an interesting topic. I have been under general anesthesia many times while having undiagnosed/treated severe sleep apnea. So apparently they know how to keep you breathing. Now that I am diagnosed/treated, will my apnea be managed any differently next time? Will CPAP be used during the procedure or only afterwards?

xxyzx wrote:

Goofproof wrote:Just got a De-Fib replaced after 11 years, (die Hard died) 10-09-17, they also added new wires in two heart chambers. This time they put me out, used my CPAP both times. (same CPAP 12 years old) Got out 10-10-17, the nite of the ninth was bad 3 hours sleep, the tenth another 3 hours, when I got home slept 12 hours. Never missed a breath. Jim

They used glue to hold the wound closed, probably won't be wearing a two piece to the beach. Left quite a bump.

xxxxzx, what good will meeting the anesthesist do. You aren't going to jump off the slab and beat him up. At least this one was awake in school, the last one used novicane, incorrectly. Finally I passed out as they were burn sealing the bleeders, I took the cutting and carving the pocket to put it in, but the soldering gun to close the bleeders, exceeded my pain limits, I finally passed out. When I was in recovery, one of my nurses said: She had never seen anything like that.

=========

really ?

meeting the anesthesia dr will tell you whether you want to put your life in his hands or not
if he wont listen and talk to me and
just shoves a piece of paper in your face and says sign so you cant sue him when you are already on the table like my guys did
would you let him in the OR

like i said
i have passed on all surgery no matter how hard the family doc says i need it
two strikes on the anesthests not letting them have a third try

Only two strikes, try one more it may be a home run! Lucky, this time I had the Pro Team... I looked None of them were nealing none were on the bench. The doctor even came in recovery to make sure I was alive, before he sent the bill to the INS co. Jim

The chance of dieing in the U.S.A. is 100%, some of us just have to wait longer than others.

Xenophobic too. IS it your contention that the ability to speak english is required to practice medicine? Here or there or anywhere? But I have never encountered any Dr. while here in the US that did not speak English at a passible level. I wish college professors were held to the same standard.